Vibratory apparatus for ear treatment.



E. MEYER. VIBBATOBY APPARATUS POR EAB. TREATMENT. rrmonlox FILED rma.24,1908.

904,632. r Patented Nov. 24, 190s.

A ZSEEETS-SHBET 1.

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E. MEYER. VIBRATORY APPARATUS Ton EAR TREATMENT.

APPLICATION FILED EL'B. Z4, 1908.

PatentedN ov. 24, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mmmaams. @www EUGENE MEYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VIBRATORY APPARATUS FOR EAR TREATMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed February 24, 1008. Serial No. 417,249.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE MEYER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vibratory'Apparatus for Ear Treatment, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to apparatus for treating the tympanum of the earto ear pulsations or vibrations for remedial purposes as set forth inLetters Patent No. 853,645 issued to me May 14th, 1907, and are designedto afford means whereby a relatively high degree of air tension orpressure may be attained and maintained as the case may require, andwhereby greater delicacy and accuracy of tension or pressure may beachieved in adapting the apparatus to the requirements of individualpatients.

The invention consists in the special construction and arrangement ofparts described and claimed, a distinguishing feature being the use ofan auxiliary tension and pressure regulating chamber connected with thevibratory air chamber' as hereinafter set forth.

n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a side elevation of myapparatus; Fig. 2, is a plan of the same; Fig. 3, a central longitudinalsectional elevation upon plane of line` S-S-Eig 2; Fig. 4, is an endelevation.

The diaphragm m, is preferably, though not necessarily made of mica onaccount of its resilience, durability and unchangeability under changesof temperature and atmospheric conditions. It is preferably of circularform and its edges are supported by and between annular 4gaskets n, a,which may consist of rubber tubing as indicated in Eig. 8, the lowergasket resting upon an annular shoulder a', in the air chamber d, andthe upper gasket being confined by an annular peripherally threaded ringa2, screwing into the upper edge of the air cup N in which the air ordiaphragm chamber d, is formed. The air cup N is shown as supported upona standard as, attached to the plate a, which is in turn rigidly securedto the base A.

c, is a pipe or nipple extending through the bottom of the air cup' Nand communicating with the air chamber d. To this nipple 0, is attacheda rubber tube c, or equivalent for lconveying the air pulsations createdby the vibration of the diaphragm m, to the ear or ears, or nostril ornostrils of the patient, as the case may require. Obviously the outerend of this tube c, may be bifurcated, and it may be provided with anozzle jf, for direct and air tight contact with the ear or nasalpassages. Another tube c, protrudes from the bottom of the air cup N,communicating with the diaphragm 'chamber (l, therein, as shown in Fig.3, and

in this tube c, and between the air cup N and the nipple c, of the tubec, is interposed a small puppet valve c, resting normally on a seat o',in the casing o2, and movable between said seat o, and the aperture @3,in the top of the casing v2. A stop cock w, is interposed in the pipe c,between the air cup N and the valve o, so that the latter may be cut outwhen desired. Attached to the nipple e, is a flexible tube f, upon theother end of which is a rubber bulb or equivalent device E It will beseen that the valve o, may be designed as a double acting, since itperforms the double function of a relief and a check valve.

A pipe r, connects the vibratory air chamber d, with the auxiliaryregulating chamber R consisting preferably of a cylinder provided with apiston or diaphragm 1", which may be advanced or retracted by suitablemeans as by a screw thread r2, on the piston rod r3, engaging with astationary nut g. A valve r4, is interposed in the pipe r, between thevibra-tory air chamber (Z, and the regulating chamber R.

G is a pressure gage of any suitable or well known constructioncommunicating with the vibratory air chamber d, through the medium ofthe pipe g, and indicating visually to the operator the exact degree ofpressure or tension existing within said vibratory air chamber (l. Thisis an important feature in conjunction with the regulator R since itassists the operator in manipulating the regulator to att-ain aprescribed degree of either tension or pressure in the vibratory airchamber CZ.

As shown in the drawings the hammer L, is made to reciprocate byelectromagnetism, said hammer being attached to the free end of a leverH carrying' an armature L, opposed to the cores of two electro-magnetsG, Gr. The rear end of the armature lever H, is connected with a springh2, which is in turn connected with an adjusting screw h3, by which thetension of the spring may be regulated. The lever H is insulated fromits fulcrum by a sleeve or bushing of insulating material 2'., shown inFig. 3, and carries a contact breaker h4, of any desired or well knownconstruction.

B is a battery or other source of electrical energy controlled by aswitch S. The current, when turned on passes through the coils of theelectro-magnets Gr, G, to the standard J and through the latter to thecontacts j, j, and through them to the contact breaker and lever II fromwhich the circuit is completed through the connection 7c,- the' currentbeing alternately opened and closed by the action of the electro-magnetsin the usual and well known manner. As a result the air within thechamber cl, is alternately compressed and relaxed and the pulsations orvariations in density or pressure' are transmitted through tubing c, tothe nozzle or nozzles p, the cock w, being preferably closed.

Under ordinary conditions of use where no special skill or delicacy oftreatment is necessary, when it is desired to vary the pressure above orbelow normal or atmospheric pressure the valve r4, is closed and thecock 'w is opened, so as to render the valve 'v available. Under theseconditions, if the bulb F is collapsed slowly the excess of air willraise the valve o slightly from its seat c, and allow such excess toescape without perceptibly affecting the air in the diaphragm chamber d.If now the bulb be released its automatic expansion will cause suctionwhich will hold the valve c, on its seat o', and create a partial vacuumwithin the air chamber d, which of course, creates suction in the tubec. If, on the contrary, it is desired to create an excess of pressurewithin the diaphragm chamber CZ and tube c, the bulb F is compressedforcibly and rapidly, immediately driving the valve c, upward, closingthe aperture fvg, and forcing an excess of airinto said diaphragmchamber d and tubing o. By these various manipulations I am enabled toadapt and modify the action of my apparatus to the special requirementsof patients under treatment. Thus if the ear drum is collapsed ordrawninward, the partial Vacuum or suction treatment is resorted to throughthe external ear passages, whereas if the tympanum is distended outwardfor any reason an excess of pressure is utilized in like manner. Or thereverse treatment may be resorted to in like cases where the treatmentis administered through the nasal passages and eustachian ducts.

Where from the nature of the case under treatment a relatively high orlow degree of pressure or tension is desirable, and where the degree ofpressure or tension is to be maintained with accuracy, the valve r4, isopened, establishing communication between the regulator chamber R andthe vibratory air chamber. Under these conditions, it being understoodthat the nozzle or nozzles P are held in contact with the ear or ears,or` nostril or nostrils of the patient as the case may be, so as tovirtually seal the tube c', the bulb F used as above set forth to eitherincrease or decrease the internal pressure in the vibratory chamber d,above or below that of the atmosphere to the degree desired, when thevalve w is closed. It is obvious that under these conditions themovement of the piston or diaphragm 7", within the regulating chamber Rwill either increase or diminish the degree of pressure or tensionwithin the vibratory air chamber CZ, according to the direction of suchmovement. Thus if the diaphragm fr is adjusted inward toward the pipe i,the pressure in the vibratory chamber cl, will be augmented, and if itis adjusted in the opposite direction the degree of tension will beincreased. Hence the extent to which the air pressure or tension in thevibratory chamber l may be increased or diminished is only limited bythe capacity of the regulator chamber R. i

By this means a degree of pressure or tension may be attained andmaintained above and beyond the capacity of the flexible bulb F, sinceall possibility of leakage in that direction is prevented by the closingof the valve w. Furthermore, by watching the gage G, a skilled operatorcan manipulate the diaphragm 1", so as to regulate the pressure ortension with accuracy with relation to the special requirements of thepatient under treatment, maintaining a prescribed degree of pressure ortension or varying the same as may be found most expedient.

I have found by actual experience that my apparatus may be effectuallyused to relieve tinnitus aurium or head noises to exercise andstrengthen the tympanum and reinedy or correct its position &c. It hasbeen found eilicient in returning and even curing partial and prolongeddeafness; and may be used advantageously in loosening waxy deposit-swithin the inner ear. In fact, owing to the elasticity and resilience ofthe air it may be thus used where resort to more positive rigid meanswould 4be inexpedient or dangerous.

My apparatus is especially advantageous and useful in substitutingelastic fluid air in lieu of liquids in the treatment of the ear, sincethe practically incompressible liquids are apt to cause inflammation oreven rupture unless skilfully used, and in cases where the eustachiantube is wholly or partially closed my apparatus furnishes the onlyavailable means of effective treatment.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

l. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of avibratory air chamber, a diaphragm therein, a supplemental regulatingchamber connected with said vibratory air chamber, a valve interposedbetween said vibratory airchamber and said supplemental regulatingchamber, a movable partition in the latter, means for adjusting saidpartition, means for forcing air under pressure into said vibratory airchamber, means for vibrating said diaphragm in said vibratory airchamber consisting of a vibratory lever provided with an armatureactuated by electro-magnetism, and means for transmitting the resultantvibrations of air to a patient, substantially in the manner and for thepurpose described.

2. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of avibratory air chamber, a diaphragm therein, a supplemental regulatingchamber connected with said vibratory air chamber, a valve interposedbetween said vibratory air chamber and said supplemental regulatingchamber, a movable partition in the latter, means for adjusting saidpartition, a collapsible bulb connected with said vibratory air chamber,a relief and check valve interposed between said vibratory air chamberand said bulb, means for vibrating said diaphragm in said vibratory airchamber, consisting of a vibratory hammer lever provided with anarmature actuated by electro-magnetism, and means for transmitting theresultant vibrations of air to a patient, substantially in the mannerand for the purpose described.

3. ln apparatus of the character designated, the combination of avibratory air chamber, means for exhausting air therefrom, a relief andcheck valve interposed between said air chamber and said means ofexhaust, a diaphragm in said vibratory air chamber, means for vibratingsaid diaphragm consisting of a vibratory hammer lever provided with anarmature actuated by electro-magnetism, means for transmitting theresultant vibrations to a patient, a supplemental regulating chamberconnected with said vibratory air chamber, a valve interposed betweensaid vibratory air chamber and said supplemental regulating chamber, amovable partition in the latter and means `for adjusting said partitionfor the purpose described.

4. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of avibratory air chamber, a diaphragm therein, a supplemental regulatingchamber connected with said vibratory air chamber, a valve interposedbetween said vibratory air chamber and said supplemental regulatingchamber, a movable partition in the latter, means for adjusting saidpartition, means for vibrating the diaphragm in said vibratory airchamber, consisting of a vibratory hammer lever provided with anarmature actuated by electro-magnetism, and means for transmitting theresultant vibrations of air to a patient, for the purpose described.

5. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of avibratory air chamber, a collapsible bulb connected with said vibratoryair chamber, a check valve interposed between said vibratory air chamberand said bulb, a stop cock interposed between said vibratory air chamberand said check valve, means for vibrating said diaphragm, means fortransmitting the resultant vibrations of air to a patient, asupplemental regulating chamber connected with said vibratory airchamber, a valve interposed between said vibratory air chamber and saidsupplemental regulating chamber, a movable partition in the latter, andmeans for adjusting said partition for the purpose described.

6. In apparatus of the character designated, the combination of avibratory air chamber, means for exhausting air therefrom, a reliefvalve interposed between said vibratory air chamber and said means ofeX- haust, a stop cock interposed between said vibratory air chamber andsaid relief valve, a diaphragm in said vibratory air chamber, means forvibrating said diaphragm, means `for transmitting the resultantvibrations of air to a patient, a supplemental regulating chamberconnected with said vibratory air chamber, a valve interposed betweensaid vibratory air chamber and said supplemental regulating chamber, amovable partition in the latter and means for adjusting said partitiontherein, for the purpose described.

EUGENE MEYER.

lVitnesses:

Yliao. WVM. MIATT, D. W. GARDNER.

